CN105829059A

CN105829059A - Method and apparatus for continuously producing a semi-finished product for the production of self- sealing tyres

Info

Publication number: CN105829059A
Application number: CN201480068926.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: A·蒙特罗索; A·斯库拉蒂; S·特斯蒂
Original assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici SpA
Current assignee: Pirelli and C SpA; Pirelli Tyre SpA
Priority date: 2013-12-20
Filing date: 2014-11-21
Publication date: 2016-08-03
Anticipated expiration: 2034-11-21
Also published as: US20190009480A1; EP3083188B1; WO2015092574A1; MX2016007126A; BR112016014040B1; CN105829059B; BR112016014040A2; EP3083188A1; US10723091B2; US10131101B2; US20170157868A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus (100), and relative method, for producing a semi-finished product (50) comprising a strip of sealing compound (51) for building tyres (1), comprising at least one unsaturated styrene thermoplastic elastomer, one bonding resin and one cross-linking agent; wherein the apparatus comprises a continuous mixer (101 ) comprising an inner chamber (103) for receiving the components of the sealing compound and to continuously mix them until the sealing compound is obtained; a buffer device (110) having a respective inner chamber (111) and coupled in series with structural continuity to the continuous mixer, downstream of the latter; a gear pump (120) having a respective inner chamber (121) and a gear system (122) housed in the respective inner chamber, and coupled with structural continuity to the buffer device downstream of the latter, an extrusion head (130) coupled directly and with structural continuity to the gear pump, downstream of the latter, in a manner such to receive in input the sealing compound from the gear pump and deliver in output the sealing compound in the form of a strip having predetermined transverse size, wherein the buffer device (110) receives the sealing compound from the continuous mixer (101) and feeds the gear pump.

Description

For producing process of semi-finished and the equipment of self-sealed tire production continuously

Technical field

The present invention relates to for producing the semi-finished product of self-sealed tire production, the process of semi-finished especially including sealed mixture bar and equipment continuously.

The invention still further relates to the process for producing self-sealed tire and equipment.

Background technology

At the tire art for wheel, the most known many decades of self-sealed tire, such as describing self-sealed tire in document GB739525, it is prevented from the air loss caused due to piercing through of being caused by nail or another sharp objects and the venting caused according to claim.

Usual self-sealed tire includes at least one of which sealed mixture (generally near the radial inner surface of self-sealed tire), described sealed mixture can adhere to insert the object in tire, and also be able to flow in hole when described object is removed, therefore seal hole self, with prevent or slow down air from tire flow out.Described mixture during the operation of tire must deformable and be viscosity, but described mixture especially must have sufficiently rigid structure during obtaining tire, is suitable for allowing it to maintain shape.

Such as known from documents below for the method and apparatus of preparation and form seal mixture.

Describing the method for preparing non-polymeric sealing synthetic in patent documentation US2009/0272476, wherein, various compositions are mixed by utilizing the internal mixer for rubber.

Described in the patent documentation US2011/0213050 is the process for producing self-sealed elastomer composition, wherein, masterbatch is produced, described masterbatch is by means of at blender (such as, mixing screw extruder) in elastomer and the mixing of thermoplastic resin and include elastomer and thermoplastic resin, in masterbatch, interconnected system is introduced subsequently by mixing all things in identical or different blender (such as, the external mixer of two roller open roll mill types).

Patent documentation US2005/0228076 describes for the method by utilizing common rotary twin screw extruder to produce the synthetic including rubber, resin and solvent continuously.

Describing a kind of tire in patent documentation US2011/0198009, it is provided with self-sealed synthetic and the layer of being folded without breaking.As example, the composition of synthetic mixes by means of twin screw extruder at a temperature of about 190 DEG C.Extruder is provided with for the extruder head with desired size extruded product.

At patent documentation US8, describing the device for producing the flat elements from thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) gum forming in 226,868, described device includes extruder (such as, common rotating twin-screw extruder), extruder mould and cooling liquid groove.

Generally, in order to produce self-sealed tire, the semi-finished product including continuous print sealed mixture bar can be used, described sealed mixture bar is generally by least one support layer supports of sealed mixture, described sealed mixture is processed (such as with permission, it is wrapped in via laying on bulging, transmits, lays during building, etc.).The example of such a semi-finished product is described in the application WO2011/064698A1 of applicant.

Summary of the invention

Before recently, the market demand of self-sealed tire is low, and therefore the production of sealed mixture and/or relevant semi-finished product need not meet the mass-produced requirement of typical industry, such as, high yield, short production time, low cost, high automatization, etc..Up to the present the production of sealed mixture and/or relevant semi-finished product performed by manual or similar manual method, described method includes each other (the most such as, by separating for unloading the step of semifinished or finished goods mixture/be loaded into handling machine from the handling machine of such as blender or extruder) different production steps (mix, shape, etc.).

Applicant it turned out recently, the demand of self-sealed tire has been dramatically increased by market, therefore applicant thinks needs a kind of process of semi-finished for producing the continuous strip including sealed mixture, the method is suitable to produce the semi-finished product of high yield with limited cost (for example, it is desired to total processing time short and/or increasingly automated).

Applicant also has noticed that, the performance of the sealed mixture layer in tire can depend on layer thickness, and the uniformity of the thickness along the directrix following the circumferentially extending part of tire.

The most under this background, applicant has been proposed for realizing process of semi-finished and the problem of equipment of the continuous strip including sealed mixture for producing self-sealed tire production, described method and apparatus is suitable to carry out a large amount of production of industry with limited cost, guarantee the high longitudinal uniformity of the lateral dimension (such as, height and width) of described bar simultaneously.

Applicant thinks, for produce the semi-finished product of the continuous strip including sealed mixture, in different step, implement known method owing to the length and being unsuitable for of their complexity and/or the time of execution needs high yield, weakness reason time and/or the commercial production of low cost, and/or they do not guarantee the accurate control of the longitudinal uniformity of lateral dimension.

In first aspect, the present invention relates to the equipment of the semi-finished product of the bar including sealed mixture for productive structure tire.

' semi-finished product ' referring to constitute the element of crude tyre, described element has the profile in orthogonal cross-sections and lateral dimension being combined in crude tyre for it.

' bar ' referring to continuous elongated member, described continuous elongated member has the longitudinal size of more much bigger than lateral dimension (such as, two or more orders of magnitude).

' sealed mixture ' refer to final product mix, i.e. there is all the components completely that be dispersed with, and prepare to be combined in crude tyre, in order to during the operation of finished tire, give the seal feature needed for the application of the present invention.Such as, the sealed mixture in finished tire has: viscoelasticity characteristic, flows in allowing it to the perforation produced by pointed member on carcass structure；And viscosity, to produce the drag force (such as, when pointed member is expelled out of during the rolling of tire) applied on sealed mixture with the pointed member of movement via contacting.

Sealed mixture such as can include:

(a) at least one unsaturated styrenic thermoplastic elastomer；

(b) at least one binding resin；

(c) at least one cross-linking agent；

(d) at least one diene elastomer alternatively.

Optionally, encapsulant can also include e) at least one plasticiser, f) at least one reinforcement implant and g) at least one peptizer.

Production equipment includes continuous mixing device, described continuous mixing device is configured to receive the composition of sealed mixture (to be separated differently from one another and/or has mixed, even partly and/or mixing in subgroup), and described composition is mixed continuously until obtaining sealed mixture.

Term ' continuous mixing device ' it is intended to indicate that mixing arrangement, described mixing arrangement is suitable to receive the composition (except at possible stopping mixing arrangement during safeguarding or during amendment elastomer blends formula) of the elastomer blends of supply continuously generally by means of controlled radiacmeter, and make described composition mix to obtain (may be in multiple blend steps) finished product elastomer blends, and mixing arrangement (such as Banbury discontinuous with regular load/unload^TM, etc.) compare, described mixing arrangement is suitable to continuous flowing unloading elastomer blends.In the blender field term of elastomer blends, continuous mixing device is sometimes used in this term being deemed to be equivalent to ' continuous mixing device ' ' mixing extruder ' instruction, even if in a preferred embodiment of the invention, continuous mixing device does not the most perform the reality ' extrusion ' (but final product mix is delivered to buffer unit) of final product mix.

Continuous mixing device includes that at least one (substantially cylindrical) inner cavity chamber, screw rod or multiple screw rod or blade (in the case of planetary-type mixer) generally rotate in inner cavity chamber.Material be blended in its along inner cavity chamber principal spread direction advance during occur.

The major function of continuous mixing device is by increasing temperature so that elastomeric material is soft and have plasticity and process described elastomeric material, thus contributes to dispensing merging in polymeric matrix and/or distribution.Therefore continuous mixing device is mainly provided with the mixing portion that can give high shear stress to mixture, thereby increases and it is possible to be provided with redistribution part.Continuous mixing device is additionally provided with the translator unit that processed mixture can be sent to another longitudinal end from inner cavity chamber longitudinal end.

Described equipment includes buffer unit in the downstream of continuous mixing device, and includes that gear pump, buffer unit and gear pump are designed with corresponding inner cavity chamber in the downstream of buffer unit.

Buffer unit is set and is configured to receive sealed mixture from continuous mixing device and supply to gear pump.

Expression way ' upstream ', ' downstream ', ' terminal ', ' longitudinally ' etc. use with reference to the flow direction of the most processed sealed mixture.

Buffer unit is preferably serially linked to continuous mixing device with structural continuity, so that two corresponding inner cavity chamber physical connections without interruption (such as, the most not arriving the outlet of external environment condition).

The example of buffer unit can include Single screw extrusion device, twin screw extruder (TSE) etc..

' Single screw extrusion device ' refers to include the device of the single conveyor screw being contained in corresponding inner cavity chamber, wherein, conveyor screw (being generally of helical configuration) is configured to transmit sealed mixture along the principal spread direction of inner cavity chamber, applies substantially zeroed or low-down mixing on described sealed mixture.Although it should be noted that term is ' extruder ', but in the present invention, mixture will not be discharged into outside by extruding in the end in the downstream of Single screw extrusion device.

Gear pump has the gear train being contained in corresponding inner cavity chamber, and is connected to buffer unit with structural continuity in the downstream of buffer unit so that two corresponding inner cavity chamber physical connections without interruption.

Described equipment also includes extruder head, and described extruder head is directly coupled to gear pump in the downstream of gear pump with structural continuity, thus receives sealed mixture from gear pump in input, transmits the sealed mixture of the described bar that form is predetermined transverse dimensions in the output.

In second aspect, the method that the present invention relates to the semi-finished product (such as, there is feature described here) of the bar including described sealed mixture for productive structure tire.

Described method includes the composition of sealed mixture (is separated differently from one another and/or has been mixed, even partly and/or being mixed in subgroup) it is supplied in continuous mixing device (there is features described above), and mix described composition when described composition advances in continuous mixing device, until obtain sealed mixture.

Sealed mixture is directly continuously fed into buffer unit (such as from continuous mixing device follow-up including by described method, there is features described above), described buffer unit is serially linked to continuous mixing device with structural continuity in the downstream of continuous mixing device so that two corresponding inner cavity chamber physical connections without interruption.

Described method makes sealed mixture advance in buffer unit follow-up including, sealed mixture to be continuously fed into gear pump (such as, there is preceding feature), described gear pump has corresponding inner cavity chamber and the gear train being contained in corresponding inner cavity chamber, and it is connected to buffer unit in the downstream of buffer unit with structural continuity so that two corresponding inner cavity chamber physical connections without interruption.

Sealed mixture is continuously fed into extruder head (such as by means of gear pump follow-up including by described method, there is preceding feature), described extruder head is directly coupled to gear delivery side of pump with structural continuity, in order to obtain the bar of the described sealed mixture with predetermined transverse dimensions in the output from described extruder head.

Applicant thinks, the equipment of the present invention and method allow to produce continuously the semi-finished product of the continuous sealing mixture bar comprising the good longitudinal uniformity with lateral dimension, single continuous flow procedure includes the mixing of material composition and the shaping of bar, therefore being advantageously adapted in the commercial production of tire use, industrial being characterised by requires the high yield of semi-finished product, low execution time (overall low cost) and high uniformity.

Applicant thinks, production including the semi-finished product of sealed mixture bar is physically connected to the link in a series of continuous mixing devices, buffer unit, gear pump and extruder head each other with structural continuity without interruption by means of between corresponding inner cavity chamber, and this allows the operation of the material composition by mixing sealed mixture to efficiently separate with the operation shaping continuous strip.

Before obtaining this solution, applicant attempts producing continuous sealing mixture bar by extruder head in the single continuous process including mixing and shaping so that structural continuity is directly coupled to the first comparative configuration of continuous double-screw mixer outlet.The result obtained is unsatisfactory for the dimensional stability of extrusion bar.

Therefore, applicant attempts the second comparative configuration, and in the second comparative configuration, extruder head is directly coupled to gear pump with structural continuity, and gear pump is directly coupled to the outlet of continuous double-screw mixer then with structural continuity.Even if improving to some extent relative to the first comparative configuration, it is thus achieved that result with regard to extrusion bar lateral dimension longitudinal uniformity for be also not satisfied.

Applicant is fine-tuning to the solution according to the present invention then, wherein, supplementing as the second comparative configuration, buffer unit is (such as, Single screw extrusion device) insert continuous mixing device (such as with structural continuity, double-screw mixer) and gear pump between, unexpectedly obtain and there is the bar of good longitudinal size uniformity.

Additionally, applicant the most rule of thumb observes, the temperature exited from extruder head in the inventive solution is lower under given same traffic for the first and second comparative configurations, thus offsets or significantly limit the risk of scorching hot mixture.In addition, although being implemented process further on sealed mixture by buffer unit, but allow the more thermal control of the sealed mixture introduced by buffer unit and slack time applicant to obtain the sealed mixture being easier to control for dimensional stability and reduction inner tensions, to allow formation equipment (gear pump+extruder head) correctly supply at the semi-finished product of device downstream.

It is not intended to be illustrated theoretical constraint, it is applicant's understanding that in the first and second comparative configurations, mixing and two shaped operate tight association continuously, affect one another and disturb.Such as, it is believed that in the first and second comparative configurations, continuous metering system and/or continuous mixing device the pressure/flow pulse being applied to sealed mixture reflects in extruder head, causes the Axinlly nonuniform of lateral dimension.In this case, it is difficult to optimize mixing simultaneously and shape.But, in this solution, aforementioned separation limits or counteracts an impact operated another, therefore, it is possible to perform under can being easier to the optimum condition identifying and obtaining.Such as, aforementioned pulse can by buffer unit and may with additionally by gear pump absorb (that is, there is lower frequency and/or amplitude).

For all of the above, think that this solution has overcome the prejudice of those skilled in the art or natural orientation under any circumstance (such as, from such as US2011/0198009 and US8, 226, the document described above of 868 manifests), described prejudice or natural orientation have been got rid of any one and have been inserted buffer unit (such as between extruder head (being used for shaping continuous strip) and continuous mixing device (for being mixed for obtaining the composition of sealed mixture), Single screw extrusion device) and the usage of gear pump, described four devices in series link with the structural continuity of corresponding inner cavity chamber.

According to first and/or and second aspect, the present invention provides following preferred solution.

Preferably, the inner cavity chamber of continuous mixing device, the inner cavity chamber of buffer unit, the inner cavity chamber of gear pump and extruder head are positioned in identical level height.

Preferably, the inner cavity chamber of continuous mixing device and the inner cavity chamber of buffer unit are being extension on horizontal axis relative to each other, are more preferably extending on mutually orthogonal axis.

Preferably, continuous mixing device is the type of at least two screw rod including being contained in inner cavity chamber, and described at least two screw rod jointly rotates or reversely rotates.

In replaceability embodiment, continuous mixing device is the type with planetary rollers (mandrel).

In another replaceability embodiment, continuous mixing device is to have the ring extruder (such as, having the ring extruder of six or more screw rod) of multiscrew or have the agitator of vibration screw rodOr long continuous mixing device (LCM).

Preferably, continuous mixing device is double-screw mixer, and described double-screw mixer has the common rotary screw run through at least in part, the more preferably diameter of inner cavity chamber more than or equal to 18mm and/or less than or equal to 420mm.

Preferably, continuous mixing device is configured so that the speed of rotation of screw rod more than or equal to 100rpm and/or is less than or equal to 1200rpm, more preferably torque relative to torque capacity more than or equal to 20% and/or less than or equal to 90%.Torque capacity refers to the ratio (nominal data provided by manufacturer) between maximum nominal power and the maximum nominal rate that machine rotors or axle rotate.

Preferably, the diameter of the inner cavity chamber of buffer unit is more than or equal to 40mm and/or less than or equal to 750mm's.

Preferably, buffer unit is configured so that the speed of rotation of (one or more) screw rod is more than or equal to 15rpm and/or less than or equal to 100rpm.

Preferably, the diameter of the inner cavity chamber of gear pump is more than or equal to 20mm and/or less than or equal to 180mm.

Preferably, gear pump is configured so that the speed of rotation of gear is more than or equal to 10rpm and/or less than or equal to 50rpm.

Preferably, the temperature of the sealed mixture in the exit of extruder head is more than or equal to 60 DEG C and/or less than or equal to 160 DEG C

Preferably, the flow of sealed mixture is more than or equal to 30kg/h and/or less than or equal to 5000kg/h.

Preferably, the possible instantaneous delivery pulse (such as, from continuous metering system and/or continuous mixing device self) of the sealed mixture in continuous mixing device is significantly restricted and/or be nearly eliminated in buffer unit.It is highly preferred that buffer unit reduces amplitude and/or the frequency of instantaneous delivery pulse in the inner cavity chamber of buffer unit respectively relative to the amplitude of the pulse in the inner cavity chamber of continuous mixing device and frequency.So, buffer unit can fill the chamber of gear pump continuously, and flow is preferably at most slowly varying.

Preferably, continuous mixing device and at least one first longitudinal component close to the inner cavity chamber of the buffer unit of continuous mixing device are shaped so that sealed mixture occurs pressure drop in the passage of described first portions of proximal of the inner cavity chamber from continuous mixing device to buffer unit.Preferably, the difference between the minima of the pressure of the sealed mixture in the Pressure maximum value of the sealed mixture in the terminal longitudinal component of continuous mixing device and described first portions of proximal be positive or more than or equal to described maximum 25%, more preferably equal to or greater than described maximum 40%, still more preferably greater than or equal to the 60% of described maximum.In one embodiment, the pressure of sealed mixture is taken to the value of ambient pressure by pressure drop substantially.Preferably, the free area of the orthogonal cross-sections of the described first proximal lumen room part of buffer unit is more than the free area of the orthogonal cross-sections of the terminal inner cavity chamber part of the continuous mixing device close to buffer unit.Preferably, the free area (corresponding with the free space that can be used for mixture) of the orthogonal cross-sections of described first portions of proximal is more than or equal to the 110% of free area of orthogonal cross-sections, more preferably equal to or greater than the 120% of the described terminal inner cavity chamber part of continuous mixing device.

Applicant thinks, aforementioned separation between the mixing and the operation of shaping of semi-finished product is the most effective when being proved to when following situation: the longitudinal component close to the inner cavity chamber of the buffer unit (such as, Single screw extrusion device) of continuous mixing device is shaped so that sealed mixture occurs pressure drop in the passage of the proximal lumen room part from continuous mixing device to buffer unit.

Preferably, buffer unit reduces the temperature of sealed mixture during sealed mixture is advanced along the corresponding inner cavity chamber of buffer unit, and the difference between the porch and the temperature in exit of device is more preferably equal to or greater than 5 DEG C, still more preferably greater than or equal to 10 DEG C.

Sealed mixture can such as include at least one the unsaturated styrenic thermoplastic elastomer from 20 to 100phr, from at least one synthesis or natural diene elastomer of 0 to 80phr, from 20 to 200phr, preferably from least one binding resin of 30 to 150phr, from least one cross-linking agent of 0.1 to 6phr.

Generally sealed mixture also includes from 10 to 200phr, preferably from the plasticiser (such as, oil or liquid polymers) of 20 to 60phr, and preferably from 1 to 40phr, more preferably strengthen implant from least one of 5 to 30phr.

According to preferred implementation, sealed mixture can also include at least one the homogeneity agent from about 1phr to about 20phr.

Preferably, sealed mixture can also include at least one peptizer from 0.05phr to 5phr.

Term ' the acronym of phr'(" numbers to every 100 parts of rubber ") it is intended to refer to the parts by weight of every 100 parts of main elastomer substrate.For the calculating of the main elastomer substrate of 100 parts, do not consider possible additive (such as, possible elastomer resin or drawing oil).

Preferably, described bar has the profile intercepted along orthogonal cross-sections, described profile have commonly referred to horizontal direction, the first direction pointed to along full-size and commonly referred to short transverse, be orthogonal to the second direction of described horizontal direction.

Preferably, described bar has the profile intercepted along orthogonal cross-sections, described profile has two contrary longer sides (being generally parallel to each other), the length of described contrary longer sides more much bigger than ultimate range each other (such as, at least five times, preferably at least ten times).Preferably, described profile is basic trapezoidal shape, and said two limit is consistent with trapezoidal longer and shorter substrate.

Preferably, the ultimate range between said two longer sides is more than or equal to 2mm, preferably greater than or equal to 3mm and/or less than or equal to 6mm, preferably lower than or equal to 5mm.

Preferably, described semi-finished product also include the service film processing (such as, upper be wound around via being laid on drum, transmission, lay during constructing, etc.) sealed mixture for described sealed mixture bar with permission.Preferably, described service film more preferably adheres to one of described longer sides in described trapezoidal longer bases.Preferably, described service film is made up of plastics such as polyester (PET).Generally, during tire production, service film separated with described bar before semi-finished product are routed on drum and reclaims.

Preferably, described semi-finished product be additionally included in contrast on the side of described service film, more preferably adhere to the structural membrane of described bar in described trapezoidal shorter bases.Preferably, described structural membrane is self-supporting, and can be made up of thermoplastic and/or elastomeric thermoplastic's material and/or elastomeric material.Such as, structural membrane can be made up of the polyamide of such as nylon, or is made up of the polyester of such as PET.Preferably, the thickness of structural membrane is less than about 100 μm.

Preferably, described semi-finished product also include that the first and second elongated members of being made up of elastomer blends are (i.e., thin layer), first and second elongated members described bar two opposite sides upper part adhere to described bar and be at least partially transverse to described longer sides arrange, it is highly preferred that each elongated member is positioned at described trapezoidal corresponding hypotenuse.Preferably, each elongated member being made up of elastomeric material has at the second terminal part being placed in contact with described service film in contrast to the first terminal part being placed in contact with described structural membrane on the side of described sealing material material strip and the mid portion being placed in contact with described sealing material material strip in orthogonal cross-sections.

Advantageously, during the shaping and sulfuration of tire, when the pressure in mould makes the inwall of carcass extrusion die self, the elongated member being made up of elastomer blends accommodates sealed mixture.

Described elongated member also prevents structural membrane from separating with sealed mixture bar at its terminal edge during the shaping of tire.

Preferably, described equipment includes the transporter (such as, conveyer belt) being placed on extruder head downstream, in order to receives described bar and passes from extruder head by described bar.

Preferably, described equipment includes that the first spool, service film (preferably, aforementioned service film) are wrapped on the first spool, first spool is suitable to be wound on transporter described service film continuous solution so that the described bar exited from extruder head abuts described service film.

Preferably, described equipment includes the second spool, structural membrane is (preferably, aforementioned structure film) it is wrapped on the second spool, second spool is suitable to be wound on transporter described structural membrane continuous solution so that described structural membrane is adhering to described bar in contrast on the side of described service film, more preferably in described trapezoidal shorter bases.Preferably, described structural membrane has such mechanical property, to allow at semi-finished product such as towards the weight of supporting construction film and the weight of sealing material material strip that is disposed thereon without deformation during structure drum transmission, described semi-finished product must be applied on structure drum.If sealing material material strip is not supported on any support member, described sealing material material strip actually will deform under its own weight.

Preferably, described equipment includes the 3rd and/or Volume Four axle, the corresponding elongate member (corresponding elongate member of the most aforementioned elongated member being made up of elastomer blends) being made up of elastomer blends be wrapped in the 3rd and/or Volume Four axle in each on, 3rd and/or Volume Four axle be suitable to be wound on transporter the described elongated member continuous solution being made up of elastomer blends, make in described elongated member each adheres to described bar on the two opposite sides of described bar at least in part, more preferably, each elongated member is positioned at described trapezoidal corresponding hypotenuse.

' seal complex ' is defined as complex in finished tire, and described sealing complex is corresponding at least including described sealing material material strip and the semi-finished product of described structural membrane, the most also including the described elongated member be made up of elastomeric material.

Preferably, described equipment includes that gathering station, described gathering station are placed on the downstream of transporter and are configured to be wound into by described semi-finished product (preferably having described service film and/or described structural membrane and/or the described elongated member being made up of elastomeric material) on collection spool.

Preferably, described equipment includes the cooler being suitable to cool down described bar between the outlet and gathering station of extruder head.

Accompanying drawing explanation

By the description to the preferably but unique embodiment be used for producing continuously the process of semi-finished including producing the sealed mixture bar of tire and equipment according to the present invention, further feature and advantage will be apparent from.

Providing described explanation below with reference to accompanying drawing, described explanation is provided for citing and thus be accordingly used in indefiniteness purpose, wherein:

-Fig. 1 schematically shows the self-sealed tire for wheel with radial direction half section；

-Fig. 2 illustrates that the fragmentary perspective view of semi-finished product, described semi-finished product include being made up of elastomeric material and be intended to be formed two elongated members of a part for the self-sealed tire of Fig. 1；

-Fig. 3 a is partly with functional unit and the schematic plan view of the Part I being partly illustrated in cross-section the equipment according to the present invention；

-Fig. 3 b partly illustrates the side schematic view of the Part II of the equipment according to the present invention with functional unit；

-Fig. 4 illustrates the temperature along the equipment according to the present invention and the characteristic curve of flow with qualitative fashion and with arbitrary proportion.

Detailed description of the invention

Self-sealed tire for wheel is pointed out in FIG with reference 1；This self-sealed tire generally comprises carcass structure 2, described carcass structure includes at least one casingply 3, described casingply has the relative terminal rim strip engaged with respective annular anchor structure 4, described annular anchoring structure may associate with elastomer-filled thing 4a, and described elastomer-filled thing is combined in commonly referred in the region 5 of " tyre bead ".Casingply 3 includes many fabrics or the metallic reinforcing cords being parallel to arrange each other and covered by layer of elastomer material at least in part.

Carcass structure 2 associates with the belt structure 6 including one or more belt, and the one or more belt relative to each other and radially positions to superposition relative to the casingply 3 being generally of metallic reinforcing cords.

Just as constituting other semi-finished product of tire 1, the tread strip 7 being made up of elastomer blends is applied in the radially external position relative to belt structure 6.

The respective side walls 8 being made up of elastomer blends is also applied in the axially external position in the lateral surface of carcass structure 2, and each sidewall extends up to the respective annular structure for anchoring to tyre bead 5 from one of lateral edge of tread strip 7.

The layer of elastomer material of substantially impervious gas or so-called lining 9 it is also preferably provided with in relative to the radial inner position of carcass 2.

In the embodiment that figure 1 illustrates, tire 1 is the type for automobile；But, the present invention also is able to be applied to be intended to for heavy vehicle or the tire of motorvehicle type.

Self-sealed tire 1 is additionally included in the sealed mixture layer 10 arranged at the crown region of tire 1 and in the radial inner position relative to lining 9.Sealed mixture layer 10 extends in the whole circumferentially extending part of tire 1.Sealed mixture layer 10 has substantially at the maximum gauge " t1 " at mid-plane " X " place of finished tire 1 (that is, molding and vulcanized tyre), and towards the axial end thinning (Fig. 1) of crown region.Preferably, described maximum gauge " t1 " is between about 2.5mm and about 6mm.

Sealed mixture 10 such as includes: from least one unsaturated styrenic thermoplastic elastomer of 20phr to 100phr, from at least one synthesis or natural diene elastomer of 0 to 80phr, from at least one cross-linking agent of 0.1 to 6phr, from 20 to 200phr, preferably from least one bonding agent of 30phr to 150phr, from 10phr to 200phr, preferably from the plasticiser of 20phr to 60phr (oil or liquid polymers), and preferably from 1 to 40phr, preferably strengthen implant from least one of 5 to 30phr.Preferably, sealed mixture can also include at least one the homogeneity agent from about 1phr to about 20phr.Preferably, sealed mixture can also include at least one peptizer from 0.05phr to 5phr.

According to preferred implementation, unsaturated styrenic thermoplastic elastomer is from styrene/butadiene/styrene (SBS), styrene/isoprene/styrene (SIS), the styrene polymer of phenylethylene/butadiene/select between isoprene/styrene (SBIS) block copolymer and mixture thereof, include the diblock thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) of correspondence the most alternatively, such as, styrene-butadiene (SB) and styrene-isoprene (SI).Especially preferably comprise styrene/isoprene/styrene block copolymer or the mixture of one or more unsaturated styrenic thermoplastic elastomers of the styrene/isoprene/styrene block copolymer of at least 50%.

Especially preferably styrene/isoprene/styrene block copolymer, its cinnamic content equals to or less than 20%, is more preferably between 14% and 20%.

These copolymers are such as with PolimeriEuropa'sSOLT190, T9133, DexcoPolymers's4113,4114, Kraton'sThe title of D1111, D1112 and D1107J is sold.

According to preferred implementation, the synthesis being included in sealed mixture or natural elastomer can from generally can and sulfur or the elastomeric material of peroxide crosslinking between use, be particularly suited among the elastomer of tire product selecting, i.e., selecting from the elastomer polymer with unsaturated chain or copolymer, they have generally below 20 DEG C, the preferred glass transition temperature (Tg) in scope 0 DEG C to-110 DEG C.These polymer or copolymer can be natural origins, or they can obtain by means of solution phase cooperation use, emulsion polymerization or the gas-phase polymerization effect of one or more conjugated dienes, one or more conjugated dienes described mix alternatively with at least one comonomer, described comonomer from be not more than in quantitative aspects weight 60% monovinylarene and/or polar copolymerization monomer among select.Conjugated diene generally comprises 4 to 12, preferably 4 to 8 carbon atoms, and they can be such as from including selection following group: 1,3-butadiene, isoprene, 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene, 1,3-pentadiene, 1,3-hexadiene, 3-butyl-1,3-octadiene, 2-phenyl-1,3-butadiene, or its mixture.Especially preferably 1,3-butadiene or isoprene.Spendable polar copolymerization monomer can such as select among following: vinylpyridine, vinylquinoline, acrylate and alkyl acrylate, nitrile or its mixture, such as, acrylic acid methyl ester., methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, acrylonitrile or its mixture.Preferably, the synthesis being included in encapsulant or natural elastomer can such as select among following: cis-1, 4-polyisoprene (naturally occurring or synthetic rubber, preferably natural rubber), 3, 4-polyisoprene, polybutadiene (especially has high by 1, the polybutadiene of 4-cis-content), isoprene/the isobutylene copolymers of possible halogenation, 1, 3-butadiene/acrylonitrile copolymer, styrene/1, 3-butadiene copolymer, styrene/isoprene/1, 3-butadiene copolymer, styrene/1, 3-butadiene/acrylonitrile copolymer, or its mixture.

The bonding agent the most advantageously used can select in one group of hydrocarbon resin, and described hydrocarbon resin has the average molecular weight between hundreds of and thousands of, and provides viscosity when resin and naturally occurring or synthetic rubber mix.

Various types of synthetic resin can be used as resin.Aforementioned average molecular weight (Mn) can be according to commercial measurement well known in the prior art, such as, such as, is measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC).Specifically, below bonding agent can be used as: hydrocarbon resin, phenylol resin, carbon-based resin, xylyl resin and natural resin, such as, rosin resin or terpenyl resin.

The example of commercial hydrocarbon resin product includes: aromatic hydrocarbons petroleum base resin, such as, Tosoh company limited and the PETCOAL produced；C5/C9 hydrocarbon-based resins, such as, Tosoh company the PETROTACK produced；C5 hydrocarbon-based resins, such as,1102 (being produced by ExxonMobil).

The example of phenylol resin includes alkylphenol-formaldehyde based resin, by Abietyl modified resins derived therefrom, alkylphenol-acetenyl resin, alkylphenol and terpene-pheiiol modification resin.The particular example pointed out by trade mark includes commercial product, such as, as the RESINSP-1068 (being produced by SIGROUP limited company) of octyl phenol-formaldehyde resin and the KORESIN (being produced by BASF AG) that is made up of p-t-butylphenol-acetylene resin.

The example of carbon-based resin includes coumarone-indene resin.Particular example includes the commercial product relevant to trade mark, such as, as the NOVARESC resin (being produced by RUTGERSCHEMICALGmbH) of synthesis coumarone-indene resin (such as, NOVARESC10, C30 and C70).

The example of natural resin is rosin resin and terpene resin, they can be used as or modified: the example of these classifications is the DERCOLYTE terpene resin produced by DRT, from the resin that rosin acid DERTOLINE, GRANOLITE and the HYDROGRAL produced by DRT is derivative.

The example of xylyl resin includes xylene formal dehyde resin.

Aforementioned bonding agents can be with himself or mix and used.

Suitably cross-linking agent is sulfur in the case of there is the mixture comprising zinc and fatty acid or peroxide or wraps sulfureted molecule.

Can act as cross-linking agent in encapsulant to be derived from the particular example wrapping sulfureted molecule of sealed tire is: simple substance sulphur；Thiurams, such as, four isobutyl group thiuramization two sulfur or tetra-benzyl thiramization two sulfur；Or dithiophosphates, such as, zinc dibutyldithiophosphate；With ZnO or comprise zinc mixture together with dithiocarbamate, such as, zinc dimethyldithiocarbamate；Fatty acid and sulfenamide, such as, the yellow amide (TBBS) of the N-tert-butyl group-2-[4-morpholinodithio time or the yellow amide (CBS) of N-cyclohexyl-2-[4-morpholinodithio time；Or thiazole, such as, 2,2'-disulfide groups-(benzothiazole) (MBTS).

Can act as cross-linking agent in encapsulant to be derived from the particular example of the peroxide of sealed tire is organic peroxide, such as, cumyl peroxide (DCP), 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-bis-(tert-butyl hydroperoxide) hexane (DBPH), double (2,4-dichloro-benzoyl) peroxide (DCBP), di-tert-butyl peroxide.

Preferably peroxide, still more preferably 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-bis-(tert-butyl hydroperoxide) hexane (DBPH) is used as cross-linking agent.

The particular example of available DBPH be Arkema with title Luperox101XL45 sell 45% DBPH and calcium carbonate and the mixture of tripoli.

The quantity of peroxide is preferably between about 0.1phr and about 6phr.

The existence of peroxide or sulfur or another cross-linking agent allows partly to be chemically crosslinked sealing synthetic in the way of improving the chemical seal feature of sealing material layer during the sulfuration of tire.

At least one strengthen implant can be advantageously added to above-mentioned crosslinkable elastomeric synthetic, quantity typically from 0phr to 120phr, preferably from 20phr to 90phr.Strengthen implant to select from following being generally used among crosslinked, to be particularly useful for tire reinforcement implant, such as, carbon black, tripoli, aluminum, aluminium silicate, calcium carbonate, china clay or its mixture.Especially preferably carbon black, tripoli and mixture thereof.

According to preferred implementation, implant strengthened by described carbon black can be from having not less than 20m²The carbon black of the surface area (according to ISO18852:2005, by STSA, i.e. statistical thickness surface area determines) of/g is strengthened selecting among implant.

Structural membrane 11 is disposed relative in the radial inner position of sealed mixture layer 10 and directly contacts with described sealed mixture layer 10, and described structural membrane can be made up of thermoplastic polymer and/or thermoplasticity-elastomer polymer and/or elastomer polymer.

Thermoplastic polymer refers to include linear chain or does not combines the polymer of the chain with few branches of (that is, not cross-linking): in order to by this polymer belt to viscous state, increase temperature and be sufficient to.

Thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) (TPE) or thermoplastic elastomer are copolymer or the classification of the polymeric blends with thermoplasticity and rubber elastomer characteristics (a kind of plastics and a kind of rubber).Although most of elastomers are thermosettings, but TPE is relatively easy to such as be used aborning by injection moulding.Thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) demonstrates the typical advantages of plastics and rubber.Main Differences between thermosetting elastomer and thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) is the type of they structure crosslinkings.It practice, crosslinking is the basic structure sexual factor causing and giving high resiliency characteristic.

Structural membrane 11 is self-supporting, and can be made up of elastomeric thermoplastic's material by means of the block copolymer of such as thermoplastic polyurethane and/or be made up of polyamide and/or be made up of polyester.Self-supported membrane 11 extends as sealed mixture layer 10 in the whole circumferentially extending part of tire 1, and has the width (that is, lateral extension portions) more slightly smaller than the lateral extension portions of described layer 10.

Preferably, before formation, the described self-supported membrane 11 being made up of elastomeric thermoplastic's material has the thickness " t2 " between about 10 μm and about 100 μm.

Structural membrane 11 can be thermoplastic, is made up of polyamide or polyester.Preferably, described self-supporting thermoplastic film has the thickness less than 50 μm before formation.

Preferably, described self-supporting thermoplastic film has the thickness between about 10 μm and about 30 μm before formation.

Preferably, in finished tire, structural membrane has the thickness than the thickness little 10% to 40% measured before formation.

Preferably, in finished tire, described self-supported membrane have less than about 30N pierce through intensity.

Sealed mixture layer 10 and self-supported membrane 11 are formed and seal complex 12.When pointed member (such as, nail) pierce through in tire and when passing sealed mixture layer 10 and self-supported membrane 11, seal the object that complex 12 can adhere to be inserted, and also be able to when described object is removed seal hole self and prevent air from flowing in hole in the way of tire outflow.Seal complex 12 easily to be bored a hole by pointed member, during evicting pointed member from, maintain morphotropism and the viscosity contributing to sealed mixture transfer simultaneously.Tire 1 further preferably includes two elongated members being made up of elastomeric material 13, and each elongated member is arranged at the circumferential edge sealing complex 12.Axial inner part 13a of each elongated member being made up of elastomeric material 13 is partly superimposed upon in the radial inner position sealing on complex 12 and being disposed relative to described sealing complex 12.Axially external portion 13b of each elongated member being made up of elastomeric material 13 is directly contact arranged with lining 9.Axial inner part 13a refers to be closer to the part of the mid-plane " X " of tire 1 relative to axially external portion 13b.

In more detail, axial inner part 13a has again the axial inner region being applied directly in structural membrane 11 and the axially outer region being applied directly on a surface of sealed mixture layer 10.It practice, sealed mixture layer 10 has the axial continuation bigger than the axial continuation of structural membrane 11.Thus, each elongated member being made up of elastomeric material 13 directly contacts with both sealed mixture layer 10 and structural membrane 11.

The structure of the unvulcanized precursor of the tire 1 of sealing complex 12 included as described above activates on unshowned one or more formation support preferably by means of being assembled in by corresponding semi-finished product.

Carcass structure and belt structure typically manufacture in relevant work station apart from each other, thus are the most mutually assembling.

Seal complex 12 corresponding to semi-finished product 50 (precursor in its crude tyre).

The semi-finished product 50 partly illustrated as example include sealed mixture bar 51 (precursor of sealed mixture 10), and the profile (figure 2 illustrates with perspective view) along orthogonal cross-sections intercepting of described sealed mixture bar has the first horizontal direction 52 pointed out along full-size and the second short transverse 53 being orthogonal to horizontal direction.As example, this profile has trapezoidal shape.

Preferably, semi-finished product also include that servicing film 54 processes sealed mixture 51 with permission, and described service film was removed before being applied to by semi-finished product on structure drum.Preferably, service film adheres to the trapezoidal longer end.Preferably, semi-finished product 50 are additionally included in trapezoidal shorter bottom and adhere to the structural membrane 55 (precursor of aforementioned structure film 11) of continuous strip 51 on the side in contrast to service film 54.

Preferably, semi-finished product 50 be additionally included in continuous strip two opposite sides upper part adhere to continuous strip 51, the first and second elongated members 56 (precursor of aforementioned elongated member 13) of being made up of elastomer blends.Preferably, each elongated member has the mid portion 56c being placed in contact with sealing material material strip at the second terminal part 56b being placed in contact with service film 54 in contrast to first terminal part 56a being placed in contact with structural membrane 55 on sealing material material strip side and (at inclined side) in orthogonal cross-sections.

Sealing material material strip 51 has along described height thickness " t3 " between about 2.5mm and about 6mm.

Before semi-finished product 50 are merged into the precursor of tire 1 and shape, structural membrane 55 has less than 50 μm and the thickness " t4 " that is preferably between about 10 μm and about 30 μm.

The acquisition of carcass structure provide firstly the continuous production of the semi-finished product 50 according to the present invention, the follow-up radial outer surface by the orthogonal section cutting into appropriate length and around structure drum of described semi-finished product is wound around, structural membrane 55 to be maintained in the most internal position.The opposite end rim strip of semi-finished product 50 be combined with each other by means of such as adhesive agent type.

Lining 9 and one or more casingply 3 are applied on semi-finished product 50 to form the most substantially cylindrical what is called " carcass sleeve ".Be assembled or be formed at the opposite end rim strip of the one or more casingply 3 for anchoring to the loop configuration 4 of tyre bead 5, described opposite end rim strip is follow-up self to be rolled around loop configuration 4, in order to loop configuration encapsulated with similar lasso trick.

Obtaining so-called " outer sleeve " on the second drum or auxiliary drum, it includes the belt 6 applied with mutual radial direction stacked system and the tread strip 7 that may apply in the radially external position relative to belt 6.Then outer sleeve is extracted out to be connected to carcass sleeve by auxiliary drum.For said purpose, outer sleeve is coaxially arranged around carcass sleeve, the one or more casingply 3 shapes according to anchor ring structure by means of following manner after this: makes tyre bead 5 mutually axially close and inserts inside carcass sleeve by pressure fluid simultaneously, to determine the expanded radially of casingply 3, until casingply is against the interior surface adhesion of outer sleeve.

After structure crude tyre 1, perform molded and vulcanizing treatment, it is intended to the crosslinking by means of elastomer blends causes the structural stable of tire 1 and applies desired tread contour on tread strip 7 and apply possible labelling at sidewall 8.After vulcanization, sealed mixture layer 10 has the desired character desired character of morphotropism and viscosity (the sealing material material strip 51 can have) of morphotropism and viscosity.

Fig. 3 a and 3b schematically shows the embodiment of the equipment 100 for producing the semi-finished product 50 including sealed mixture bar 51.

Described equipment 100 includes that continuous mixing device 101, described continuous mixing device are configured to receive the composition of sealed mixture and mixed continuously by described composition, until obtaining sealed mixture.Schematically showing the hopper portion 102 of composition for supplying sealed mixture in fig. 3 a, described hopper portion is in an end of blender.But, blender can include more than one supply mouth or the hopper portion that (and generally including) be such as distributed along main bearing of trend F (it limits the flow direction of processed mixture).As example, continuous mixing device is included in for masterbatch (i.e., the mixture being pre-mixed, at least include such as unsaturated styrenic thermoplastic elastomer, but still lack some composition) blender upstream end at least one supply mouth and at the supply mouth for binding resin, the one or more supply mouths for plasticiser (' oil ') and the supply mouth for cross-linking agent of further downstream place (not shown).Described composition is supplied to continuous mixing device by the continuous metering system (not shown) generally by means of the upstream being arranged on equipment 100 self.

Continuous mixing device 101 includes at least one inner cavity chamber 103, and for example, at least one worm screw 104 rotates at least one inner cavity chamber described or multiple screw rod rotates at least one inner cavity chamber described.Material be blended in its along inner cavity chamber 103 main bearing of trend F advance during occur.Continuous mixing device is mainly provided with the mixing portion 105 that high shear stress can give mixture, thereby increases and it is possible to be provided with redistribution part.Continuous mixing device is additionally provided with the translator unit 107 for processed material is sent to another from inner cavity chamber longitudinal end.

In an illustrative embodiments, continuous mixing device is that common rotary twin screw mixes extruder MarisTMTM58HT, and it has the diameter (D) of 58mm, and the ratio between length (L) and diameter (D) is equal to L/D=56.

Described equipment 100 includes that in the downstream of continuous mixing device 101 buffer unit 110 and the downstream at buffer unit include that gear pump 120, buffer unit and gear pump are provided with corresponding inner cavity chamber 111 and 121.

Buffer unit is set and is configured to receive sealed mixture from continuous mixing device and supply (absorbing the probable discharge pulse of the mixture from continuous mixing device) to gear pump simultaneously.Buffer unit is preferably serially linked to continuous mixing device with structural continuity, so that the corresponding inner cavity chamber of said two 103 and 111 physical connection without interruption.Such as, buffer unit 110 is directly connected to continuous mixing device 101 with flange, as shown in the example in Fig. 3 a.

Preferably, buffer unit be such as trade mark be the Single screw extrusion device of MarisTM, there is the diameter (D) equal to 70mm, the ratio between length (L) and diameter (D) be equal to L/D=10.

Single screw extrusion device includes that spiral type list conveyor screw 112, spiral type list conveyor screw are contained in corresponding inner cavity chamber 111 and are configured to streamwise F and promotes material, applies substantially zeroed or low-down mixing on described material.

Gear pump 120 (such as MaagTM, there is the chamber internal diameter equal to 50mm) there is the gear train 122 being contained in corresponding inner cavity chamber 122, and be connected to buffer unit 110 with structural continuity in the downstream of buffer unit, so that the corresponding inner cavity chamber of said two physical connection without interruption.Such as, gear pump 120 is directly connected to buffer unit 110 with flange, as shown in the example in Fig. 3 a.

Described equipment 100 also includes extruder head 130, described extruder head is directly coupled to gear pump 120 in the downstream of gear pump with structural continuity, to receive sealed mixture from gear pump in input and to transmit the sealed mixture that form is the described bar 51 with predetermined transverse dimensions in the output.As example, extruder head is the smooth Thermostatic head in the output cross section with 200mm × 5mm.

Described equipment 100 preferably includes to be placed on the transporter 140 (such as, conveyer belt) in extruder head downstream, in order to receives described bar 51 from extruder head and passes from extruder head, as shown in the example in Fig. 3 b by described bar.

Preferably, described equipment includes the first spool 150, and service film 54 is wrapped on the first spool, for service film continuous solution is wound on transporter, so that the described bar 51 from extruder head abuts service film 54 in the output.

Preferably, described equipment includes the second spool 160, and structural membrane 55 is wrapped on the second spool, for structural membrane continuous solution is wound on transporter, so that structural membrane adheres to described bar 51 on the side in contrast to service film 54.

Preferably, described equipment 100 includes the 3rd and/or Volume Four axle 170 (the most only illustrating a spool), the corresponding elongate member being made up of elastomer blends 56 be wrapped in the 3rd and/or Volume Four axle in each on, for corresponding elongate member on transporter 140 continuous solution around so that each elongated member adheres to bar 51 on the opposition side of described bar at least in part.

Described equipment 100 can also include the cooling stations (not shown) being arranged on transporter 140 downstream.Cooling stations can be the other section of the conveyer belt of other conveyer belt or transporter, and suitable fan is arranged at cooling stations and cools down for air.

Described equipment 100 can include a series of bulging (not shown), and described drum is arranged on the downstream of cooling stations for the hanging of semi-finished product 50, to generate the buffer for semi-finished product 50.

Preferably, described equipment 100 includes being arranged on cooling stations and/or the gathering station (not shown) in a series of bulging downstream, and described gathering station is configured to be wrapped in semi-finished product (may be together with service band) suitably to be collected on spool.

During use, described equipment 100 is implemented for producing the preceding method including constructing the semi-finished product 50 of the sealed mixture bar 51 of tire.

Described method includes: be supplied in continuous mixing device 101 by the composition of sealed mixture, and mixes described composition when described composition advances in continuous mixing device, until obtaining sealed mixture (its expectation uniformity with the present invention and feature)；Sealed mixture is directly continuously fed into from continuous mixing device buffer unit 110；Sealed mixture is made to proceed in buffer unit, in order to sealed mixture is continuously fed into gear pump 120；By means of gear pump, sealed mixture is continuously fed into extruder head 130, in order to obtain the sealed mixture bar 51 with predetermined transverse dimensions in the output from extruder head.

As example, by utilizing such as the device of above example instruction, described method provides the flow of the sealed mixture equal to 150kg/h.The working condition of double-screw mixer 101 (TSE) is as follows continuously: the speed of rotation of screw rod is 300rpm, and torque is 35%, and pressure is equal to 10bar.The working condition of Single screw extrusion device 110 is as follows: the speed of rotation of screw rod is 50rpm, and torque is 10%, and pressure is 10bar.The working condition of gear pump 120 is as follows: the speed of rotation of screw rod is 25rpm, and torque is 15%, and the pressure at output is 50bar.The temperature of the mixture in the exit of extruder head is equal to 110 DEG C.

Extrusion bar 51 is by band 140 reception, and inserts between two films 54 and 55 at the lower surface and upper surface of extrusion bar, and is defined at sidepiece by the said two elongated member 56 with gasket function.Semi-finished product 50 then proceed to cooling stations, and semi-finished product cool down at cooling stations, so that semi-finished product harden and become appropriate for storage and use in structure tire 1.In order to cool down, semi-finished product are hung on a series of drums, and described drum continues to collect the function of the semi-finished product arrived from production line during having the changing reel in gathering station.Finally, semi-finished product 50 arrive gathering station, and semi-finished product are wrapped on collection spool at gathering station together with service band.

Fig. 4 is with qualitative fashion and the progress (solid line 402) of the instantaneous delivery Q of the arbitrary progress (dotted line 401) than temperature T exemplifying sealed mixture and the sealed mixture along equipment 100.Horizontal axis represents the position L along equipment 100 with arbitrary proportion.Use by means of respective figure labelling briefly shows the cross section of the equipment 100 corresponding with the various devices constituting described equipment in the graph.Instantaneous delivery refers to pass through at any time the flow of the mixture in equipment cross section.

Can it is observed from fig. 4 that, implement control mixture temperature and therefore control the function of its viscosity by air-circulation features curve according to the buffer unit 110 of the present invention.Additionally, buffer unit effectively absorbs the flow pulse (for instantaneous frequency and/or amplitude) generally caused by blender (if flow pulse arrives gear pump and/or extruder head and will cause the corresponding fluctuation of lateral dimension).So, buffer unit can fill the chamber of gear pump continuously, and flow is preferably at most slowly varying.

Gear pump 120 receives material from buffer unit in itself and guarantees the thermal control of capacity stability and material, correctly to supply extruder head, and absorbs the possible slow flow pulse transmitted by buffer unit.

Result is such sealed mixture bar 51, and it has geometric properties (that is, it needs to other shaping processes) the most accurate and stable for directly using in semi-finished product 50.

As noted above, before obtaining method and apparatus according to the invention, applicant implements the first comparative configuration, and in the first comparative configuration, output cross section is that the smooth constant temperature extruder head of 200mm × 5mm is directly coupled to common rotary twin screw mixing extruder Maris with structural continuity^TMThe outlet of TM58HT, common rotary twin screw mixing extruder has the diameter (D) of 58mm, ratio between length (L) and diameter (D) is equal to L/D=56, and applicant implements the second comparative configuration, in the second comparative configuration, aforementioned extruder head is directly coupled to the internal diameter gear pump Maag equal to 50mm with structural continuity^TM, gear pump and then be directly coupled to the outlet of aforementioned continuous double-screw mixer with structural continuity.

Relative to aforementioned first and second comparative configurations, applicant finds to significantly improve in the sealing material material strip produced by an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in described illustrative embodiments, diameter (D) is equal to the Single screw extrusion device Maris of L/D=10 equal to 70mm and the ratio between length (L) and diameter (D)^TMIt is introduced in the second comparative configuration, inserts between aforementioned continuous double-screw mixer and aforesaid gears pump with structural continuity.

Concrete, applicant is the most empirically determined, and the variance (being intended to the interval as maximum variable) of each lateral dimension of the sealed mixture bar produced according to previously described embodiment of the invention is the only about half of of about 1/3rd and the variance that introduced by the second configuration of the variance introduced by the first configuration under given same traffic.

In addition, applicant is the most empirically determined, and the temperature of the sealed mixture in the exit at extruder head produced in previously described embodiment of the invention is less than the output temperature about 20 DEG C in the first configuration and less than the output temperature about 10 DEG C in the second configuration under given same traffic.

Claims

1. one kind includes the equipment (100) of semi-finished product (50) constructing the bar (51) of the sealed mixture of tire (1) for production, and described sealed mixture at least includes following component:

(a) at least one unsaturated styrenic thermoplastic elastomer；

(b) at least one binding resin；

(c) at least one cross-linking agent；

Wherein, described equipment includes:

-continuous mixing device (101), it includes inner cavity chamber (103), is configured to receive the composition of sealed mixture and mix described composition continuously, until obtaining sealed mixture；

-buffer unit (110), it has corresponding inner cavity chamber (111) and serially linked to continuous mixing device with structural continuity in the downstream of continuous mixing device so that two corresponding inner cavity chamber physical connections without interruption；

-gear pump (120), it has corresponding inner cavity chamber (121) and the gear train (122) being contained in corresponding inner cavity chamber, it is connected to buffer unit with structural continuity so that two corresponding inner cavity chamber physical connections without interruption in the downstream of buffer unit；

-extruder head (130), it is directly coupled to gear pump in the downstream of gear pump with structural continuity, thus receive sealed mixture from gear pump in input, and transmit the sealed mixture of form in the described bar with predetermined transverse dimensions in the output, wherein, buffer unit (110) is set and is configured to receive sealed mixture and for supplying to gear pump from continuous mixing device (101).

Equipment the most according to claim 1, wherein, continuous mixing device (101) includes multiple screw rods (104) or the blade being contained in corresponding inner cavity chamber (103), and continuous mixing device is provided with the mixing portion (105) that high shear stress can give mixture and the translator unit (107) that processed mixture can be sent to another longitudinal end from a longitudinal end of inner cavity chamber (103).

Equipment the most according to claim 1 and 2, wherein, continuous mixing device (101) is common rotary double-screw mixer.

4. according to the arbitrary described equipment of aforementioned claim, wherein, continuous mixing device has more than or equal to 18mm and/or the inner cavity chamber's diameter less than or equal to 420mm, continuous mixing device is configured so that the speed of rotation of screw rod more than or equal to 100rpm and/or is less than or equal to 1200rpm, and torque is more than or equal to 20% and/or less than or equal to 90%.

5., according to the arbitrary described equipment of aforementioned claim, wherein, continuous mixing device, buffer unit, gear pump corresponding inner cavity chamber (103,111,121) and extruder head are positioned in identical level height.

6. according to the arbitrary described equipment of aforementioned claim, wherein, buffer unit is the Single screw extrusion device of single conveyor screw (112) including being contained in corresponding inner cavity chamber, wherein, conveyor screw is configured to transmit sealed mixture along the principal spread direction of inner cavity chamber, applies substantially zeroed or low-down mixing on sealed mixture.

7. according to the arbitrary described equipment of aforementioned claim, wherein, buffer unit has more than or equal to 40mm and/or the inner cavity chamber's diameter less than or equal to 750mm, and buffer unit is configured so that the speed of rotation of screw rod is more than or equal to 15rpm and/or less than or equal to 100rpm.

8. according to the arbitrary described equipment of aforementioned claim, also including: transporter (140), it is placed on the downstream of extruder head (130) to receive described bar and being sent away from extruder head by described bar；First spool (150), service film (54) is wrapped on the first spool, and the first spool is suitable to be wound on transporter described service film continuous solution so that the described bar exited from extruder head abuts described service film；Second spool (160), structural membrane (56) is wrapped on the second spool, second spool is suitable to be wound on transporter described structural membrane continuous solution so that described structural membrane adheres to described bar on the side in contrast to described service film；3rd and/or Volume Four axle (170), the corresponding elongate member being made up of elastomer blends (56) be wrapped in the 3rd and/or Volume Four axle in each on, 3rd and/or Volume Four axle be suitable to be wound on transporter the described elongated member continuous solution being made up of elastomer blends so that each in described elongated member adheres to described bar on the two opposite sides of described bar at least in part.

9. according to the arbitrary described equipment of aforementioned claim, also including: gathering station, it is placed on the downstream of transporter and is configured to be wrapped in by described semi-finished product (50) on collection spool；And cooler, it is suitable to cool down described bar (51) between the outlet and gathering station of extruder head.

10. being used for producing an equipment for self-sealed tire (1), it includes according to the arbitrary described equipment of aforementioned claim.

11. 1 kinds include the method for semi-finished product (50) constructing the bar (51) of the sealed mixtures of tire (1) for production, and described sealed mixture at least includes following component:

(a) at least one unsaturated styrenic thermoplastic elastomer；

(b) at least one binding resin；

(c) at least one cross-linking agent；

Described method includes:

-be supplied to the composition of sealed mixture to include in the continuous mixing device (101) of inner cavity chamber (103), and mix described composition when described composition advances in continuous mixing device, until obtaining sealed mixture；

-subsequently sealed mixture is directly continuously fed into from continuous mixing device buffer unit (110), described buffer unit has corresponding inner cavity chamber (111), serially linked to continuous mixing device with structural continuity in the downstream of continuous mixing device so that two corresponding inner cavity chamber physical connections without interruption；

-make sealed mixture advance along buffer unit subsequently, absorb the possible flow pulse of the sealed mixture from continuous mixing device, sealed mixture to be continuously fed into gear pump (120), described gear pump has corresponding inner cavity chamber (121) and the gear train (122) being contained in corresponding inner cavity chamber, it is connected to buffer unit with structural continuity so that two corresponding inner cavity chamber physical connections without interruption in the downstream of buffer unit；

-subsequently, by means of gear pump, sealed mixture is continuously fed into extruder head (130), described extruder head is directly coupled to gear pump with structural continuity, in order to obtain the bar of the described sealed mixture with predetermined transverse dimensions in the output from described extruder head.

12. methods according to claim 11, wherein, the temperature of the sealed mixture in the exit of extruder head is more than or equal to 60 DEG C and/or less than or equal to 160 DEG C, and wherein, the flow of sealed mixture is more than or equal to 30kg/h and/or less than or equal to 5000kg/h.

13. according to the method described in claim 11 or 12, and wherein, sealed mixture also includes at least one diene elastomer and/or at least one plasticiser and/or at least one reinforcement implant and/or at least one peptizer.

14. according to the method described in claim 11 or 12 or 13, wherein, sealed mixture includes at least one the unsaturated styrenic thermoplastic elastomer from 20 to 100phr, from at least one synthesis or natural diene elastomer of 0 to 80phr, from 20 to 200phr, preferably from least one binding resin of 30 to 150phr, from least one cross-linking agent of 0.1 to 6phr.

15. according to described method arbitrary in claim 11 to 14, and wherein, buffer unit reduces amplitude and/or the frequency of instantaneous delivery pulse in the inner cavity chamber of buffer unit relative to the amplitude of the pulse in the inner cavity chamber of continuous mixing device and/or frequency.

16. according to described method arbitrary in claim 11 to 15, and wherein, sealed mixture occurs pressure drop in the inner cavity chamber from continuous mixing device to buffer unit in the passage of the Part I of continuous mixing device.

17. according to described method arbitrary in claim 11 to 16, wherein, buffer unit reduces the temperature of sealed mixture during sealed mixture is advanced along the corresponding inner cavity chamber of buffer unit, and the difference between the porch and the temperature in exit of buffer unit is more than or equal to 5 DEG C.

18. according to described method arbitrary in claim 11 to 17, wherein, described bar (51) has the profile intercepted along orthogonal cross-sections, described profile has two relative longer sides, the length of relative longer sides is more than mutual longest distance, wherein, described semi-finished product also include the service film (54) adhering to one of described longer sides, side in contrast to described service film adheres to the structural membrane (55) of described bar, and the first and second elongated members (56) being made up of elastomer blends, first and second elongated members adhere to described bar in the two opposite sides upper part of described bar and are at least partially transverse to the setting of described longer sides, and wherein, described method includes: sent away from extruder head by described extrusion bar；Continuous solution is around described service film so that the described bar exited from extruder head abuts described service film；Continuous solution is around described structural membrane so that described structural membrane adheres to described bar；And continuous solution is around the described elongated member being made up of elastomer blends so that described elongated member adheres to described bar at least in part.

19. 1 kinds of methods being used for producing self-sealed tire (1), including structure, vulcanize and mould crude tyre, wherein, structure crude tyre includes the semi-finished product (50) producing the bar (51) including sealed mixture according to described method arbitrary in claim 11 to 18.